diff --git a/net/tipc/subscr.c b/net/tipc/subscr.c
index 69ee2eeef968..f9ff73a8d815 100644
--- a/net/tipc/subscr.c
+++ b/net/tipc/subscr.c
@@ -296,7 +296,8 @@ static void tipc_subscrb_rcv_cb(struct net *net, int conid,
 	if (tipc_subscrp_create(net, (struct tipc_subscr *)buf, subscrb, &sub))
 		return tipc_conn_terminate(tn->topsrv, subscrb->conid);
 
-	tipc_nametbl_subscribe(sub);
+	if (sub)
+		tipc_nametbl_subscribe(sub);
 }
 
 /* Handle one request to establish a new subscriber */